Spring-gear for vehicles



(No Model.) I

W. BLUME.

SPRING GEAR FOB. VEHIGLES. 373,920. Patented N029, 1887.

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N. PETERS, Phulommgn hnr. Wamingfun. I10.

UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

WILLIAM BLUME, OF SGEANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPRING-GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 373,920, dated November 29, 1887.

Application filed August 26, 1887. Serial No. 247,895.

Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and,

State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Springs and Gear, of which the following is a specification.

The present inventionis an improvement upon the one for which Letters Patent No.

340,7 57 were granted to me April 27, 1886. Its object is to provide an easier riding vehicle and means to keep the body and gear in better shape.

The invention will be first fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are indicated by similar reference-letters wherever they occur th roughout the various views, and then particularly referred to and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is an inverted plan view of a vehicle embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same through line a: so, looking toward the rear axle, which is removed; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through line y with both axles and the lower portion of the fifth-wheel removed. A portion of the center spring and its bolster is broken away to expose one of the side springs back of it.

The axles A A are of the usual form. The wide head-block B differs from the one of my former patent in having the ends bifurcated, forming the spring-arms b b. The purpose of this arrangement is to give more spring to the head-block at its ends, so as to prevent the spring side bars, 0, from rolling or turning the back axle when the vehicle is heavily loaded. The spring side bars are secured upon the ends of the head-block arms b b and upon the rear axle, A, by bolts or clips in the usual manner. Upon the under side of the head-block, transversely across its center, is secured a metal plate, D, which has depending from it a hanger. d, and from under the center of the rear axle, A, depends another hanger, E,which is secured to the axle by the center clip 0, which holds the cap upon the axle. The bars of these hangers receive the flexible straps F, which also pass through loose shackles or (No model.)

loops 9, which are secured in the eyes of the center spring G. The straps F are provided with bucklesf, by which the ends of the spring G may be adjusted nearer to or farther from the hangers, for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

The spring G, which may be composed o any desired number ofleaves, depending upon the load it is to sustain, has a wooden bolster, g, clipped centrally upon its upper side, and to the upper center of this bolster g is secured a crossspring, H, the outer ends of which curve down and are secured to the under side of wooden bolsters t, which are clipped upon the under sides of theside springs, I. The forward ends of the side springs, I, are coupled to clip-platesj, which plates are secured to the body-bottom J. The opposite or rear-ends of these side springs,l,are provided withloops or swinging shackles t, which are coupled in curved clip-plates j, which are also secured to the under side of the body-bottom J.

K K are cross-springs arranged upon each side of the spring H. They are clipped to the under side of the spring G, thence curve upward upon each side to the under side of the bolsters i, to which they are also clipped. The springs K bend upward at is outside of the spring I, and thence horizontally underneath the spring side bars, 0,- to which they are clipped in the usual manner.

L are angle rub-irons, which are secured to the under side of the side bars by the same clips which connect the ends of the forward spring, K, and the side bars together.

The fifth-wheel here shown need not be specifically described, as it is the same as shown in my application filed of even date herewith, and while it is peculiarly adapted to my present form of gear, it is not indispensable, as other forms may also be employed, and the hanger for the center springGmaybe coupled to the front head-block in any suitable manner, or to the king-bolt.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the center or main spring may be tightened or slackened by the straps F to adjust the vehicle to various loads or to replace the body in proper position should it sag down by reason of the springs becoming weak from use, and as each end of the spring is adjustable independent of the opposite end the body can be readily kept in the proper position. It is understood, of course, that the springs H, I, and K may be, like spring G, composed of any number of leaves desired.

In use I find it advantageous to so adjust the center spring G that its tension will give to the spring side bars a slight upward curve or arch when the vehicle is unloaded, the tension being about sufficient to allow the side bars to straighten when the vehicle is loaded. By the means just described the vehicle may be kept in good shape until worn out, and the arrangement of springs combines great strength and elasticity-qualities that are essential in a pleasure wagon, especially when traveling over rough roads or through an uneven country. The braces or brackets M, which are clipped to the side bars and underneath the back axle, A, prevent the back axle from rolling when the centers of the spring side bars are depressed by the load, and thus insure the true tracking of the back wheels.

The'eenter cross-spring H counteracts the tendency of the springs K to spread the lougitudinal side springs, I, and the spring side bars, 0; but a very good light wagon can be made with this spring H omitted.

I claim as new and of my invention- 1. The combination, substantially as specified, of the front and rear axles, the bifurcated head-block B I) b, the spring side bars, 0, secured upon the rear axle and bifurcated ends of the head-block, and the spring G and adjustable connections F f, for securing the same to the head-block and rear axle, for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the front and rear axles and the head-block, of the spring side bars secured upon the rear axle and said head-block, the hanger D d, secured to the un' der side of said head-block, the hanger E, clipped centrally underneath the rearaxle,the central spring G, and adjustable connect-ions for securing the opposite ends of said central spring, respectively, to the hangers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a sidebar vehicle, the combination,

substantially as specified, of the rear axle, the front axle and its head-block, the side bars secured upon said rear axle and front head-block, the longitudinal center spring and adjustable connections for attaching it to the rear axle and head-block, and transverse springs connecting said central spring and side bars.

4. The combination, with the rear axle and head-block, of the spring side bars, the central metal spring, the flexible connections attaching the same to the rear axle and head-block, the longitudinal springs I, secured to the under side of the body upon each side, and the transverse springs K, connected to the said central and side springs and to the side bars, substantially as specified.

5. The combination ofthe rearaxle,the headblock, and side bars and center spring connectingthesamewiththelongitudinalbody-springs I, the cross-spring H, connected to the center and side springs, I, and the transverse springs K,counecting the said center springs and side bars, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination of the vehicle-body,the side springs, I, connected to the same by rigid clips at their forward ends and swinging shackles at their rear ends, the rear axle and front head-block, and the side bars and center spring connecting the same, with cross-springs connecting the center spring,side springs,and side bars, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination ofthe rear axle and headblock,the center spring and side bars connecting the same, the side springs, I, connected to vehicle-body at the sides thereof, said center and side springs being provided with bolsters gt' i, the cross springs K, connected underneath the central springs and side springs and spring-barsand the cross-spring H,connected on top of the center spring and underneath the side springs, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

VVILLIAM BLUME.

\Vitnesses:

G. H. WELLs, HERMAN OSTHAUS. 

